Even though it is labeled increasing the minimum benefit it doesn't Here is the scoop.
HR 4219 on page 270 of 804 page Law HR 2419 reads :
SEC. 4013. INCREASING THE MINIMUM BENEFIT.
Section 8(a) of the Food Stamp Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 2017(a)) is amended by striking `$10 per month' and inserting `10 percent of the thrifty food plan for a household containing 1 member, as determined by the Secretary under section 3(o)'.
This means the least amount a person can recieve is no longer $10.00
but will now be determined by The Secretary of Agriculture in the report titled the 'Thrifty Food Plan'.
This increase may be non-existent or as little as a dollar; It could even be less than the original minimum of $10.00. It is all left to the Secretary of Agriculture and DPW worker interpretations.
According to the official DHS allocation table #
WAG 25-03-09: Basis of Issuance Table (1) 10-01-07
http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?Item=31659

Currently a single person with an income of $505 to $1400 per month can recieve $10.00 in food stamps.
To recieve this the eligible person has to provide photocopies of all income statements, each utility bill and each household expense. They are not reimbursed for the average $2.50 they spend for these copies, nor for the time to find a place within their neighborhood that makes the copies, nor for their transportation costs to and from the DPW office, nor for the hours spent in the DPW office. And invariably most will be told they don't have all the needed paperwork and have to go through the process again.
Because of this most eligible people don't bother going through the hassle.
To issue food stamps three State Employees get paid. The case worker, The case worker's supervisor, the local DPW Office Manager, the accounting secretary who programs the payments and her supervisor.
Minimum pay each $46,000 yr plus about $12,000 health = about $290,000 to give out $ 10.00 or less a month. Not bad work.
Each as government employees recieves a healthy cost of living yearly pay increase.
The less they actually give food stamp recipients the more money on the books they save thereby keeping the overall DPW budget and their jobs.
End result more recipients are being notified of cuts in their allocations.
Final determination for each reciepient will be with the issuance of allotment notices in October.
In the meantime Food prices increase daily and all those on food stamps have been given permission to slowly starve.
Could it be with the hottest days of summer coming those in our poorest sectors; pre-teens and teens alike hungry and having nothing to do will be looking for some way to express their discontent?
On top of that Nancy Pelosi stopped the actual increase five months ago. If she hadn't those who need them would have had an increase for about nine months through early spring, the hot summer months, and into early winter. As it stands now they won't see if they even have an increase until October.

I am a caseworker and let me tell you how it works in PA. The client does not have to make their own copies, they can bring the original copy and we make copies for them! If they don't have all of their paperwork, they can mail in the remaining verification at no cost, since we give them self-addressed envelopes!

Another thing , please tell me why a client should be reimbursed for the time they spend in the office to apply for benefits? If that is the case, I should be reimbursed for going to the doctor, to pay a bill, etc!

Every single one of your posts are about foodstamps. WTF is your deal? And what does Illinois' department of welfare have to do with PA?

__________________
Peter Cetera:
Sometimes I just forget
Say things I might regret
It breaks my heart to see you crying

What is an original copy?

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Ong Thanh
Black Lions
23955263
October 17, 1967
A CO, 2ND BN, 28TH INF RGT, 1 INF DIV
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shurayukihimeI am a caseworker and let me tell you how it works in PA. The client does not have to make their own copies, they can bring the original copy and we make copies for them! If they don't have all of their paperwork, they can mail in the remaining verification at no cost, since we give them self-addressed envelopes!
Since you are a caseworker could you estimate how many of your clients get ten dollar food benefits.? My searches could not find a statistical chart breaking down the benefits actually paid to each group. And is it true most senior citizens fall into this catergory?
Another thing , please tell me why a client should be reimbursed for the time they spend in the office to apply for benefits? If that is the case, I should be reimbursed for going to the doctor, to pay a bill, etc!
I drove my elderly neighbor to her 10 am appointment. At 4Pm the office was closing and she still had not been seen.
They were telling her to come back the next day when I asked to speak to the supervisor.
Have you ever went to the doctor and had him forget you were there?
Also, could you explain why the main phone # 215-560-3500 is rarely answered and when it is the caller is lost in a computer answered loop?

Oh yes, complaining on phillyblog will really solve problems about food stamps.

And Illinois' index is not interchangeable with PA's.

__________________
Peter Cetera:
Sometimes I just forget
Say things I might regret
It breaks my heart to see you crying